Letter: Statue’s value did not hinge on its location

Published: Wednesday, July 2, 2014 at 09:50 PM.

Re: Great respect for ‘Fighting Yank’ statue, not for those who relocated it

Mr. Arrowood, perhaps the idea for moving the statue originated with the visionary ruminations of Mr. Shoemaker. But, as you note several times, he's hardly acting alone; several diverse "groups" and many contributors to a fund to pay for the move have agreed with him that the statue will be more visible, safer, and treated more respectfully in its new location.

The increased accessibility, surrounding benches, lights, and security system are respectful innovations that are hardly offset by the argument that it should be kept where it was because, well, because that's where it was.

This statue's value is not derived from its location, but from what it represents. And the simple truth is that more people have seen and paid tribute to the Fighting Yank in the short period that it has been in Stowe Park than in the last 15 years at the middle school where it was largely ignored by everyone--except by those who vandalized it multiple times.

I hope what you call the "millennial generation that occupies Belmont" stays here, so that it can help keep Belmont from stagnating by blind adherence to status quo. And I also hope this town continues to be lucky enough to have citizens like Art Shoemaker, who contributes so much to our town, including the willingness to go out on a limb in the face of naysayers and sure criticism to make Belmont even better than it is.

No doubt about it, "The Fighting Yank" will become a favorite and iconic spot in our incredible park, a place where pictures, proposals and memories will be made. Yes, sometimes history is changed because of the ideas of a single individual.

And in this case, it has been changed for the better. And for that, Mr. Shoemaker, like the "Yank," deserves our great respect.

Re: Great respect for ‘Fighting Yank’ statue, not for those who relocated it

Mr. Arrowood, perhaps the idea for moving the statue originated with the visionary ruminations of Mr. Shoemaker. But, as you note several times, he's hardly acting alone; several diverse "groups" and many contributors to a fund to pay for the move have agreed with him that the statue will be more visible, safer, and treated more respectfully in its new location.

The increased accessibility, surrounding benches, lights, and security system are respectful innovations that are hardly offset by the argument that it should be kept where it was because, well, because that's where it was.

This statue's value is not derived from its location, but from what it represents. And the simple truth is that more people have seen and paid tribute to the Fighting Yank in the short period that it has been in Stowe Park than in the last 15 years at the middle school where it was largely ignored by everyone--except by those who vandalized it multiple times.

I hope what you call the "millennial generation that occupies Belmont" stays here, so that it can help keep Belmont from stagnating by blind adherence to status quo. And I also hope this town continues to be lucky enough to have citizens like Art Shoemaker, who contributes so much to our town, including the willingness to go out on a limb in the face of naysayers and sure criticism to make Belmont even better than it is.

No doubt about it, "The Fighting Yank" will become a favorite and iconic spot in our incredible park, a place where pictures, proposals and memories will be made. Yes, sometimes history is changed because of the ideas of a single individual.

And in this case, it has been changed for the better. And for that, Mr. Shoemaker, like the "Yank," deserves our great respect.